SDHB to discuss fate of physio pool today

The Southern District Health Board has changed its mind and
is to discuss ''a resolution'' in relation to the pool at its
board meeting in Invercargill this morning, a spokesman said,
after the board had earlier said it would leave the decision
until its October or November meeting.

Hopes are the board will agree to keep the pool open until
the end of June, after the trust that runs the pool secured
$50,000 to cover the pool's operating cost shortfall to June
and the Dunedin City Council this week indicated support for
a feasibility study required before decisions can be made on
the viability of the pool and its long-term future.

Otago Therapeutic Pool Trust secretary-treasurer Neville
Martin said earlier this week a positive decision by the
board, allowing the trust more time to evaluate what work was
required to upgrade the pool and what it would cost, was
critical.

It was important a decision was made now because of the tight
timeframe the trust would then have to get the feasibility
study done and, should it show it was viable to keep the pool
going, work out a financial strategy to support that.

At this stage, the SDHB is to close the pool in December
because it says it can no longer afford the annual operating
costs or an expected $1 million pool upgrade.

The trust has proposed it and the community would raise the
money needed for the upgrade.

Following a meeting on Monday between the trust, the council
and the SDHB chief executive and chairman, the health board
said it would ''reconsider'' the December closure date at its
October or November meeting.

That was despite others present at the meeting leaving with
the impression the SDHB was going to discuss it today.

Mr Martin said October or November would be too late to save
the pool.

An extension to June would give comfort to the public that
the chances of keeping the pool open were improved and that
donating money would be worthwhile.

''Therefore, it is important to the trust that the SDHB makes
the decision this week rather than in October or November.''

If the SDHB decided this week to keep the pool open until
June, the trust would be able to apply for a grant for the
feasibility study and engage the right people to undertake
it.